Pakistan: Baloch rights organization PANK condemns amendment to Anti-Terrorism Act

Baloch rights organisation PANK has condemned recent amendments to Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act, which grants carte blanche to the military and civilian armed forces. It said these amendments fundamentally undermine human rights and the rule of law.

This statement of the Human Rights Department of the Baloch National Movement came after the Pakistan government gave the security forces the right to detain any person suspected of armed attack. This decision of the Pakistan government came amid the ongoing atrocities and forced disappearances in Balochistan.

In a post on X, Pank said: “Provisions allowing the detention of any individual based on suspicion of potential terrorist activities are a direct violation of international standards on the right to liberty and security. Such laws pave the way for arbitrary arrest and detention, potentially leading to ill-treatment, including torture, which violates the principles of fair trial and due process.”

In the statement, Pank stressed that the absence of strong judicial review threatens the right to a fair trial, which he/she described as the cornerstone of democratic societies. It said that every individual has the right to undergo judicial process and such laws destroy the basic rights of human beings.

“Overly broad definitions of what constitutes terrorism or a threat to national security can be misused to suppress peaceful protests, political opposition and freedom of expression. This vagueness does not meet the principle of legal certainty required under international law,” Panek said.

he/she further said that the intention to streamline investigations may seem legitimate. But, the structure and operation of the Joint Investigation Teams, which involve intelligence agencies with little transparency, raise significant concerns about potential human rights violations without adequate accountability.

It highlighted that these laws can severely restrict freedom of assembly and expression. Pank said the ability to detain individuals based on such broad criteria could have a negative impact on civil society, journalism and political activism, effectively stifling dissent.

#BalochistanPank has condemned recent amendments to Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act, which grant sweeping powers to the military and civilian armed forces, as they fundamentally undermine human rights and the rule of law.

The provision allowing the detention of any person… pic.twitter.com/Ft4doqbPk7

– paank (@paank_bnm) September 5, 2024

Earlier on September 2, a young man went missing from Turbat city in Pakistan’s Balochistan, as reported by Balochistan Post.

According to the report, the man was reportedly detained by the Pakistan Army after being detained from Shahi Tump area of ​​Balochistan. The missing man has been identified as Dad Shah Baloch, son of Master Salim Baloch.

Earlier, as reported by Balochistan Post, two men went missing after being detained by the Pakistan Army in Konshkalat area of ​​Tump, Balochistan on the night of August 30. The two missing men have been identified as Nasrat and Daad Dost.

Their whereabouts are unknown, raising serious concerns among residents and human rights organisations. Given the problem of enforced disappearances in the region, the families of the missing persons are worried about their safety, reports Balochistan Post.

Local communities and advocacy groups have demanded greater transparency and accountability regarding the actions of Pakistani security forces in the region. More than 55,000 people are missing from various areas of the region, the Balochistan Post reports.

The international community has also expressed concern, with various United Nations bodies and international human rights organisations calling for an investigation and urging the Pakistani government to address the issue comprehensively.